High speed single current relay



Feb. 16, 1932. R J. WISE 1,845,992

HIGH SPEED SINGLE CURRENT RELAY Filed July 9, 1929 3 Sheets-$heet lZinnentor 'Jzazegh J Vi (Ittorneg I I I HIGH SPEED SINGLE CURRENT RELAYFiled July 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Ittqrneg Snoenfor Feb. 16, 1932. RJ, 155

HIGH SPEED SINGLE CURRENT RELAY Filed July 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALEIGH J. WISE, OFPLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO THE WESTERN UNI N TELEGRAPH COMPANY,OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A. CORPORATION 01! NEW YORK HIGH SPEED SINGLE CURRENT RELAYApplication filed July 9, 1929. Serial No. 876,988.

Thisinvention relates to a single current electromagnetic relay, thatis, to a relay which operates by virtue of the magnitude of the currentirrespective of the direction thereof,

5 and. more particularly to a magnetic relay in'whdch the travel time ofthe contact arm between the stationary contacts, is short.

In the usual relay construction there is an appreciable interval of timebetween the instant when the movable contact leaves one of thestationary contacts and the instant it makes contact with the oppositestationary contact. This is a serious objection in the use of the relayespecially in connection with to the operation of duplex telegraphsystems,

for insance, wherein it is essential that the shortest ihle interval oftime shall elapse between is removed from l and the instant the 239opposite of cattery or the ground connection, substituted therefor andto avoid such dificulty it is common practice to employ some form ofcontinuity preserving contacts in conjunction with the relay. $5 Thisrelatively slow movement of the armature which carries the contact armis due mainly to the high moment of inertia of the armature and to theslow and incomplete magnetization and demagnetization of the 39 magnetcore. The rate of magnetization and demagnetization of the magnetic coreis dependent upon a number of factors, such as,

the residual magnetism in the core, flux, leak age, eddy currents, etc.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to overcomethesedifficulties and to produce a single current relay in which the traveltime of the contact arm between the stationary contacts will be short.

Another object is to'produce a high speed relay in which the magneticcircuit will be rapidly and more completely magnetized and demagnctized.

Another object is to reduce the flux leakage,

and the residual magnetism in the magnetic circuit and eliminate eddycurrent efi'ects.

A further object is to provide a convenient adjustment of the air gapbetween the arma ture and the magnetic pole faces.

' A still further object is to provide a conie instant one polarity ofbatteryvenient adjustment of the tension of the retractile armaturebiasing spring.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In accordance with my invention I reduce the moment of inertia of thearmature by directly mounting the same at one end, adjacent the yoke ofthe magnet, so that in place of the usual bodily movement of thearmature, it has pivoted movement only about such end, no extra metalother than composing the armature itself with its contact arm and thepivot, being required to be moved in re sponse to the operating current.The armature is also shaped at the free end to eliminate all unnecessarymetal. and the switch arm which projects beyond the armature ispreferahly composed of a light material, such as aluminum.

in order to still further reduce the resistance to movement of thearmature it is moun ed upon jeweled bearings independently of the yokeof the magnet.

The demagnetization of the magnetic core is rendered more rapid byinterposing an auxiliary air gap in the core. In the embodi ment of theinvention disclosed this gap is provided between the pivoted end of thear mature and the yoke and in order that such gap will not undulyincrease the reluctance maintain the exposed surfaces at the ends of thearmature small so that there is only a limited area available from whichflux leakage may take place. Decreasing the self induction of the coilcontributes to increased speed ofoperation as will be readilyappreciated. Reduction of the leakage flux also increases the usefulflux available.

The armature, due to its pivoted mountin I may readily be laminated,thus reducing ed y cunents and residual magnetism since eddy currentsvary in intensity with changes in the amplitude of the received impulse,the

elimination of eddy current effects tends towards more uniform operatingconditions of the relay. 4

' In order that the invention may fully-understood reference will be bemore Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a'relay embodymg my invention,showing the frontof the instrument;

' Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the relay showing theadjustable yokesupporting plate;

Fi 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 Ofllllglllfi 1;

Fi 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

purpose of comparison.

My improved relay comprises a suitable base plate 10 having the relaymagnet 11 and the stationary rela contacts 12 and 13 independentlymounte thereon so as to ermit 135 separate and relative adjustment theseP members. I

The relay magnet comprises the U-shaped laminated iron yoke 14,laminated armature 15 and a coil 16, the coil being disposed about thearmature 15. The laminations comprising' the yoke 14 are clamped betweennonmagnetic side pieces 17, preferably of brass and the yoke is rigidlysupported upon posts 18 and 19 carried by an adjustable base orturntable 20. The coil 16 is supported from the yoke 14 by metal clamps21 in such position as to surround the armature 15, the opening in thecoil being suficiently large to perarmature.

"in order to increase the rapidity and completeness of thedemagnetization of the magnetic core andmaintain a uniform air gapbetween the pivoted end of the armature and the yoke in each position ofthe armature, the pivoted end 22 thereof is rounded and disposed withina concentric recess 23 in the yoke. One or more of the laminations ofthe armature may be extended both rearwardly and forwardly thereof toform the contact arm 24 andthe tail piece 25, but I prefer to form thecontact arm of a light non-magnetic material such as aluminum. The tailpiece is flexed upwardly at 26 to clear the side of 65 the yoke. Thearmature is supported by a ad to the m accompanying drawings, in which;

mit the required pivotal movement of the neeaeea vertical pivot 27mounted in jeweled bearings 28 provided in theoppositely dis osed armsof a U-shaped bracket 29 carrie from the plate 20 by the post 30. Thecontact arm operates between the stationary contacts 12 and 13 and isnormally biased towards one of the contacts 12, which may be the spacingcontact, by a spr ng 31 attached .to the tail piece 25. l v

The plate 20 upon which the relay magnet is carried is secured to thebase by a pin 32 which permits limited rotation thereof under theactionof a cam 33. The cam 33' bears against an inclined face 34 formingone side of a substantially V-shaped slot in the plate and moves theplate and relay magnet assembly against the tension of a rectractilespring 35, the opposite ends of which are secured to a pin 36 extendinfrom the plate and a fixe The cam 33, as shown, consists of an eccentricportion of a vertical shaft 38 hearing at its op osite ends in the base10 and in a bridge mem er 39 supported over the relay magnet by thebrackets 40.

Rotation of the shaft 38 permits a convenient adjustment of the poleface of the oke relative to the armature. A dial'41w ich may be of anysuitable form,.is provided on the shaft 38 for convenience in operatingthe pin 37 exten ng from the base same. Rotation of the shaft in eitherdirection is limited by a pin 42 projectin from the bridge member 39into the path 0 a stop 1n 43- projecting radially from the hub of thedial l1.

A second dial 44 is also provided on the bridge member 39, the functionof which is to provide a convenient adjustment of the tension of theretractile spring 31. This adjustment is accom lished through thefollowing mechanism. lever 45 having one end bent in the form of a bail46, is pivoted by a pin 47 below the bridge member 39, one arm 48 of thelever extending rearwardly and having one end of the retractile spring31 attached thereto. The arm 48'has a; pin 49 extending upwardlytherefrom in such position as to be engaged by a cam 50 forming part ofor mounted upon a shaft 51 bearin in the bridge member 39 and to whichthe dlal 44: is secured.

Rotation of the cam 50 through the dial 4 1 causes the lever 45 to berotated about its pivot to increase or decrease the tension of thespring 31. Rotation of'the dial is limited by the stop pins 52 and 53.

The shafts 38 and 51 are maintained in their adjusted positions, againstaccidental movement, by a leaf spring 54: supported bcneath the bridgemember 39 by a stud 55. Oneend of the spring 54 is disposed in anannular recess 56 in the shaft 38, and exerts a pressure a ainstthe'shaft to resist rotation thereof. T e opposite end of the spring isth v increasi in conjunction with shown inFigure 8 in which the.1,e4a,eea f bears against the shaft 51 through an open- 41 is turned torotate the yoke to'the' limit in 57 m a spacing collar 58. v of itsmovement toward the armature. The

e stationary contacts 12 and 13 havin threaded shanks 59, are mounted inthe usua 6 manner in two split blocks 60 and 61 supported inspaoedrelation by an insulating member 62. I v

The base plate 10 is secured to the usual insulating mounting 63 havingcontacts 64 1 10 to which the terminals of the coil 16,- con tact arm 24an stationary contacts 12 and 13 are connected by insulated'conductors65. Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 it will be noted that theconcentric urra cess, 23 provides a uniform air gap of rela tively largearea inthe magnetic circuit, thusdemagnetization without unduly thereluctance.

1 mcreasmg Furthermore,

this air face of the magnet completel isolates the armature from contactwith the through magnetic material and limits the flux leakage to thesmall area'of magnetic metal exposed beyond the ends of thejcoil 16, asshown in dotted lines in Figure 7. The flux leakage is dependent uponthe exposed area of the surface of small as compared'to the usual t edth k 1 mg th expoeed ismouallh upon eyoe ea v e are arms 66 availablefor flux leakage.

A common form of armature mounting is shown'in Fi re 8 in which thearmature is ivoted in e forked end 67 .of-the yoke in irect metalliccontact therewith. It should be noted that in accordance with myinvention I have mounted the armature of the relay independentl of theyoke in the jeweled bearings 28. This independent mounting enables amuch more delicate and better bearing to be obtained than is the spacelimitation imposed when the armature 1S pivoted to the relay yoke.

e free end of the armature is cut off at an angleas indicated at 68 inorder to re-- duce t e moment of inertia of the armature and to reducethe area thereof, which is available for flux leakage. The contact arm24 being composed of nonmagnetic metal there is 'no leakage from theextended ends thereof. I The armature pivot 27 is disposed in alignmentwith the ivot 32 of the turntable or plate 20, asis ear from Figures 4and 5, thus eliminating any longitudinal shifting of the yoke relativeto the armature during adjustment of the air gap and hence maintainingthe-pro ture opposite t all times. I

In adjusting the armature air gap and the spring tension for the bestoperation of the relay under the required conditions the dial e'poleface of the yoke at ment of e pivoted endof the armature n the re--ng'the rapidity and oompletene'ssof the air gap at the pole relay yokethe core and is very possible with of the exposed end i r positioning ofthe arma justed to such a position that there will be a slight air gapbetween the armature and I the pole face'ofthe yoke when the relay isenergized. In pract ce this gap is usually .made about .002 inches. Withthis'preliminary adjustment the armature air gapmay .increased asoperating conditions require. Thus for instance under marginaloperation, the gap should" be adjusted to obtain the maximum armatureforce for the operating range of current. Due ance. along the line, thecurrent in the relay coils does. not fallto zero upon opening of ducedin magnitude. e amount 0 7, the

reduction in the current margin of, operation andv since this variesfrom time to timedue to weather and atmospheric conditions itis rpl entadjustments of the air gap as well as t e tension of the retractilespring 31.

A function of the spring 31 is, therefore, to bias the armature :5current. After the usted tolobtain the in force for the then existintions', the biasing s by the dial 44 so t released when the current inthe relay coil is reduced below the normal line current and also toobtain the least signal distortion.

Due to the osition of the adjusting dials on the top of t e instrument,they are readily accessible even thou h the instrument be spaced closeto the ot er apparatus.

While I have described my invention with articular reference to anelectro-magnet reay, it is to be understood that it is not so limitedbut many features hereof are applicable to electro-magnetic motorapparatus of various natures and that many 0 anges and modifications maybe made in the invention without departing therefrom, and therefore I donot desire to be limited to the particular details shown and describedexcept in accordance with the appended claims.

at is claimed is: 1. An electro-magnetic device comprising a yoke havinga recess therein and an armaturehaving an end pivoted in said recess,the pivoted end of the armature being spaced from the walls of saidrecessby a non-magnetic gap.

ir gap has been marginal condiring tension is adjusted 2. Anelectro-magnetic device comprising a yoke having a recess therein andarmature {having one end pivoted in said recess, the pivoted end of thearmature being shaped to the transmittingfci'rcuit but is merel re-vnecessary to make frcagainst this 1ineleak-- to leakage conductbelowpthe. normal operating current determines therange or 'mum armature .1 atthe armature will be correspond with the shape of the recess and beingspaced therefrom by a substantially uniform gap of non-magneticmaterial.

v area and isolated from said yoke v 3. An elec'tro-magnetic devicecomprising a yoke having a substantial semi-cylindrical ,recess thereinand an armature having one I end shaped to correspond to said recessp1voted in said r.ecess,-said end being disposed concentric with thewalls of the recess and spaced therefrom by a non-magnetic gap.

4. An electro-magnetic device comprising stituting the sole magnetizingmeans for said device, the exposed ends of the armature beyond the endsof saidwinding-bein of small y a nonmagnetic gap." q i 6. Anelectro-magnetic device comprising a U-shaped yoke having a recesstherein, an

armature havin one end pivoted in said re-.

cess and extending across said yoke and an energizing winding encirclingsaid arma-v ture, the pivoted end of said armature being spaced from thewalls of said recess by a non- I magnetic gap.

7. An electro-magnetic device comprising a yoke having a recess thereinand an armature composed of laminations having one end pivoted in saidrecess, the pivoted end of said armature being spaced from the walls ofsaid recess by a non-magnetic gap.

8. An electro-magnet1c relay comprising a U-shaped yoke, an armatureextending across the ends of said yoke and pivoted to one end thereofand an energizing winding encircling said armature, the free end of thearmature being reduced in area adjacent the end of the yoke, whereby theavailable area for flux leakage is decreased and the moment ofinertia ofthe armature reduced, and a switch arm composed of non-magnetic'materialcarried by said armature.

9. An electro-magnetic relay comprising an armature, a yoke and anenergizing winding, a supporting plate therefor, means for mounting thearmature and yoke independently of'each other u on said plate, astation-v ary contact, means or maintaining the armature in a definiteposition relative to said contact and means for moving said plate toadjust the yoke with respect to the armature.

10. An electro-magnetic relay comprising an armature, a yoke and anenergizing winda supporting plate therefor, means for ing,

the armature and .yoke independmounting ently of each other upon saidplate, a stationary contact, means formaintaming the armature in adefinite positlon relatlve to said contact and a cam' associated withsaid plate for rotating the same to adjust the yoke with respect to thearmature.

11. An electro-magnetic relay having a relay assembly comprising anarmature, a yoke and an energizing winding, a supporting.

plate for sai assembly, means for mountin said armature and yokeindependently 0 each other upon said plate, a support disposed abovesaid relay armature and means on said support for adjusting the yokerelative to the armature.

12. An electro-magnetic relay having a relay assemblycomprising anarmature, a oke and an energizing winding, a supporting plate for saidassembly, means for mounting the armature and yoke independently of eachother upon said plate, a stationary contact, means for maintaining saidarmature in a definite position relative to said contact, a supportdisposed above said relay assembly and means on said su port 'forrotating said 'plateto adjust the yo e relative to the armature.

13. An electro magnetic relay having a re:

lay assembly comprising an armature, a yokeand an energizing winding, asupporting plate for said assembly, means for mounting the armature andyoke independently of each other upon said plate, a switch arm carriedfor biasing said switch arm towardssaid stationary contact, a sup ortdisposed above port for adjusting said biasing means.

14. An electro-magnetic relay having a relay assembly comprising .anarmature, a yoke and an energizing winding, a supporting plate for saidassembly, means for mounting said armature and yoke upon said plate, aswitch arm carried by said armature a stationary contact, a supportdisposed above saidrelay assembly, a lever pivoted on said support, aretractile spring connected to an end of said lever and said switch armfor biasing said arm towards said stationary contact and means on'saidsupport for moving said lever to vary the tension of said spring.

15. An electro-magnetic relay having a relay assembly comprising anarmature, a yoke and an energizingwinding, a supporting .by thearmature, a stationary contact,- means said relay assembly an means onsaid supture and independent means mounted on said support for adjustingsaid biasing means.

16. An electro-magnetic relay having a relay assembly comprising anarmature, a yoke and an energizing winding, a supporting plate for saidarmature, a base, means for pivotally mounting said supportin plate uponsaid base and means for indepen ently pivotally mounting said armatureon said plate, 10 said plate and armature being pivoted aboutsubstantially the same axis.

17. An electro-magnetic relay having a r lay assembly comprising anarmature, a yoke and an energizing winding and means ior 15 pivot-allymounting said armature and said yoke independently of each other aboutsubstantially the same axis.

- 18. An electro-magnetic device comprising a U-shaped yoke, an armatureextending be- 7 2 tween the ends of said yoke, and an energizing windingencircling the armature, the major portion of the armature beingcontained within the confines of said winding, the exposed ends of thearmature extending 25 short distances only beyond the winding andteiiiminating closely ad acent the ends of the yo e.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si ature.

RALEIGH J. ISE. 30

